Review into Operation Lynemouth

12th March, 2019

Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) has published a report following its inspection of the Metropolitan Police Service’s review and reassessment of alleged criminal offences arising from the 2014 mayoral election in Tower Hamlets.

In response, the Mayor of Tower Hamlets John Biggs said: “This report makes clear that a lack of serious attention under the previous Mayor, Boris Johnson, in 2014 meant the police investigation into electoral fraud in Tower Hamlets was under-resourced and uncoordinated. As a result it potentially missed lines of enquiry and had to be reinvestigated years later.

“I’m pleased this review took place so lessons can be learnt for the future but sadly we may now never know what evidence was missed at the time which could have been crucial in prosecuting those responsible.

“Local people were rightly appalled at how Lutfur Rahman and his cronies stole an election. No stone should have been left unturned by the police in investigating how democracy was subverted. Sadly this was far from the case.

“As a borough we have moved on from this sorry moment in our history but as the report makes clear these failings have I fear let people off the hook.”